Need to know exactly how many words you’ve written? Whether it’s a school essay with a strict limit, a post that needs trimming, or an article you’re trying to flesh out — this free word counter shows live stats as you type. No sign-up, nothing to install.
📖 Read the full Word Counter guide — writing tips, examples, and FAQs.
How to use it
1. Type or paste your text into the box above.
2. Watch the numbers update live — words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and reading time, all calculated instantly.
3. Hit “Clear text” any time you want to start over.
That’s it. Everything happens right here in your browser.
What we count
Words — the headline number. Anything separated by spaces counts as one word.
Characters — every letter, space, and punctuation mark, useful for strict limits.
Characters (no spaces) — some applications and contests count this way instead.
Sentences — handy for checking whether your writing is too choppy or too rambling.
Paragraphs — see your text’s structure at a glance.
Reading time — estimated at an average reading speed of 200 words per minute.
Why word count actually matters
School and university — essays, assignments, and dissertations almost always come with minimum or maximum word limits. Going 10% over can cost you marks.
Social media — platforms have hard character limits. Knowing your count before you post saves awkward trimming.
Blogging and SEO — longer, in-depth articles tend to perform better in search results. Tracking your count keeps you honest about depth.
Freelance writing — many clients pay per word. A quick count tells you exactly what an article is worth.
FAQs
Is this word counter free?
Yes, completely free with no limits. Count as many words as you like.
How is reading time calculated?
We use an average reading speed of 200 words per minute, which is the commonly accepted figure for adult readers.
Does my text stay private?
Yes. The counter runs entirely in your browser — your text is never sent to our servers or stored anywhere.
What exactly counts as a word?
Any group of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. Hyphenated words count as one, which matches how most word processors do it.
Can I use this on my phone?
Absolutely. The tool works smoothly on phones, tablets, and computers.